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Reuters
Reuters
Sport

France's Koscielny to retire after 2018 World Cup

FILE PHOTO - Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth - London, Britain - September 9, 2017 Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny celebrates after the match. Action Images via Reuters/Alan Walter

(Reuters) - France defender Laurent Koscielny will retire from international football after the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the 32-year-old has said.

Koscielny has collected 49 caps since his debut in 2011, playing in the 2014 World Cup and two European Championships including the 2016 edition when the hosts finished runners-up.

"There is an end to everything," Koscielny told reporters ahead of Friday's friendly against Wales.

"After the World Cup, I would be almost 33-years-old, it will be time to leave the place.

"I have six months left in the French team to blossom and take as many memories as my wife would say."

France host Wales at the Stade de France before travelling to face world champions Germany next Tuesday.

(Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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